Materazzi revisits Zidane’s infamous World Cup headbutt: “Zidane is no saint...”
In an interview with ‘L’Équipe’, Marco Materazzi recalled the shocking episode when he was headbutted by the French star in the 2006 World Cup final.
Twenty years have passed since one of the most shocking moments in World Cup history — a moment so surreal that it still feels impossible to repeat.
Germany, 2006. The World Cup final. France vs. Italy. And then it happened: Zinedine Zidane drove his head into Marco Materazzi’s chest, sending the Italian to the floor and earning himself a red card. A crazy act which set the stage for Italy’s eventual win in a penalty shootout.
Materazzi recently revisited that night in an interview with L’Équipe, offering a candid, unfiltered look at what really happened between him and the French legend.
“I’m no saint, but neither is Zidane”
Materazzi didn’t sugarcoat his view of the incident:“I’m no saint, but Zidane isn’t either. It wasn’t his first offense. Remember his red card in 1998?” he told L’Équipe.
Still, he insists he would’ve preferred to settle things with a handshake after the match. “It would’ve been a gesture of goodwill. And that would’ve been the end of it. I had more to lose — I would’ve stayed the villain, and he would’ve become the hero.”
“Not expecting the headbutt actually helped me”
Materazzi explained that the surprise of the blow may have prevented a double red card — and a serious injury. “If I had seen it coming, I might’ve raised my hand to push him away, and the referee probably would’ve sent both of us off. I wasn’t braced for it, so my body didn’t stiffen. A headbutt that strong could’ve caused real damage.”
Waiting for the red card
He remembers lying on the turf, fully aware of what was about to happen. “When I was on the ground, I waited for him to be sent off. And honestly, I wouldn’t have gotten up until it happened. No one on the field saw it except Buffon.”
Italy then played the final ten minutes with a man advantage. Materazzi cleared the last ball of the match — a header launched as far away as possible.
“It was a relief. France could still hurt us even with ten men. Trezeguet and Wiltord had come on; we had to stay alert until the end.”
Breaking down France — and Zidane
Materazzi also analyzed France’s squad and Zidane’s role: “We knew Zidane was getting better, but Patrick Vieira was the backbone of the team. He carried France through the group stage.”
After that, Zidane took over. “There was no specific plan to stop Zizou. We marked him zonally because man‑marking him would’ve been too difficult and too costly. He was incredibly smart with his movement.”
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